• Alternate Text
  • Loading

  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App
  • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Longboat
    • Longboat
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Opinion
  • East County
    • East County
    • News
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
  • Sarasota
    • Sarasota
    • News
    • Cops Corner
    • Real Estate
    • Business
    • Neighbors
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Siesta Key
  • Arts + Entertainment
    • Arts + Entertainment
    • Eat + Drink
    • Arts + Culture
    • Reviews
    • Things To Do
    • Black Tie
    • Spotlight Partners
  • LWR Life
  • Galleries
  • More
    • More
    • Hurricane Season
    • Red Tide Map
    • Health Observed
    • Sand Bucket List
    • Calendar
    • Celebrations
    • Contests
    • Tributes
    • Submit a Celebration
    • Submit a Tribute
    • Public Notices
    • Classifieds
  • Holiday Gift Guide
  • Health Observed
  • Crossword
  • Contests
  • Newsletters
  • e-Newspaper App

Schools

A second charter school company has sought campus space at Brookside Middle School in Sarasota.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 14, 2025
New Schools of Hope requests double up in Sarasota, Manatee

A second South Florida company seeks space and says it's casting a wide net for 2027-28 school year.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
During field trips at Mote Marine Laboratory, students are given the opportunity to see sea creatures up close and explore whether or not a career in science is for them.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 11, 2025
Freshwater education grants awarded to two East County schools

The Southwest Florida Water Management District presented $3,000 to Lakewood Ranch High School and $2,500 to Bashaw Elementary School.

  • East County
  • Schools
Alyssa Rico and her twin Andrea Rico, 11, stand beside crochet items that Andrea made.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 10, 2025
Fall festival at McIntosh Middle becomes more of a tradition

The annual Sarasota event featured games, a petting zoo, food trucks, local vendors and other offerings.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
At a Junior Achievement "Discovery Center'' in Tampa, elementary-aged students run a mock city.Two similar facilities are proposed to be set up at Emma Booker Elementary and Booker Middle schools in Sarasota.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 10, 2025
Sarasota school district sets in motion sweeping vision for future

Sarasota County Schools approves a plan to attract students and eliminate empty seats.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
This rendering offers a glimpse of the multi-building concept for the new high school slated for the corner of Rangeland Parkway and Post Boulevard.
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • November 7, 2025
Plans for a second high school in Lakewood Ranch debated due to traffic

Some Manatee County commissioners argued that Lorraine Road should be widened before adding more traffic to the area.

  • East County
  • Schools
Todd Henson, director of maintenance at the School District of Manatee County, said mold testing throughout the Lakewood Ranch High School campus will determine whether areas of concern are mold, dirt, mildew or something else.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • November 5, 2025
Mold concerns grow at Lakewood Ranch High

An industrial hygienist conducts a site visit to collect samples and gather feedback from teachers and students, who say exposure to mold has made them ill.

  • East County
  • Schools
Superintendent of Schools Terry Connor speaks on the district's plans to maximize utilization.
    By
  • Eric Garwood
  • November 4, 2025
Schools plan keeps Wilkinson open, creates new K-8 campuses

The "future-focused" plan also would create business learning centers at Booker elementary and middle schools.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Fifth grader Ellah Nasr, fourth grader Nathan Rockwell, and fifth graders Peter Maslikhov, Evelyn Lambert and Hayden Oliva perform with the Ashton Elementary choir and soloists.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • November 4, 2025
Local students showcase their arts abilities at Sarasota Art Museum

The Arts and Cultural Alliance presented the Arts in Education Celebration at Sarasota Arts Museum on Nov. 1.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
At one of two "Jurassic Park" trunks, Ayla Puccio, 8, helped offer the chance to pet a dinosaur using puppets.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 30, 2025
Sarasota church, elementary school team up for trunk-or-treat

Church of the Redeemer volunteers brought to life places from "Jurassic Park" to the Hundred Acre Wood during trunk-or-treat at Alta Vista Elementary.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Dr. Magdi El Shahawy gives his acceptance speech at the Sarasota High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Oct. 26 at Michael's on East. He's spent over 30 years working in athletic administration, with stints at Florida State, Michigan State, USC, Georgia and, currently, San Diego.
    By
  • Jack Nelson
  • October 30, 2025
Former defensive lineman leads group of stars into SHS Hall of Fame

Sarasota High School 1986 graduate Magdi El Shahawy has served as the University of San Diego's associate athletic director for academics after taking time off for family.

  • Sarasota
  • Sports
Lakewood Ranch's Everett Wyckoff, a 12-year-old with autism, plays the cajon alongside volunteer Jules Whittemore at Gulf Coast Music Therapy.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 28, 2025
ODA students use their musical talent to help kids with autism

Jules Whittemore leads a group of six students who volunteer their time at Gulf Coast Music Therapy.

  • East County
  • Schools
Gene Witt Elementary School pre-K student Daniel Gordon was joined by his mother Christina Gordon for the field trip to the Soar Lab on Oct. 21. The manatee sensory wall provides children an opportunity to feel different textures.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 25, 2025
Manatee County students can soar at new early-learning skills lab

The Soar Lab is geared for children in Pre-K to third grade and offers an abundance of learning activities.

  • East County
  • Schools
Director of Manatee Technical College Law Enforcement Academy retires
    By
  • Lesley Dwyer
  • October 23, 2025
Director of Manatee Technical College Law Enforcement Academy retires

Jay Romine served 33 years in law enforcement and over 12 years as a director at MTC in Lakewood Ranch.

  • East County
  • Schools
Paige Hernandez leads students.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 22, 2025
Tuttle Elementary gets moving with hip-hop educational theater

Performing artists and educator Paige Hernandez, the current artist in residence with Sarasota Performing Arts Foundation, visited the school.

  • Sarasota
  • Schools
Darian Sanders uses his passion and experience of performing to inspire students at Lakewood Ranch High School.
    By
  • Madison Bierl
  • October 22, 2025
'Lion King' star inspires Lakewood Ranch High students

Darian Sanders spent five years traveling on the Broadway tour of "The Lion King" and uses his experience to inspire students.

  • East County
  • Schools
« 1 2 3 4 5 6 »
The best of Your Observer, delivered directly to your inbox

Get the latest in news, sports, schools, arts and things to do in Sarasota, Siesta Key, Longboat Key and East County.

Sign Up

Latest News

Sponsored Content
1
  • December 17, 2025
Animal interactions and private experiences at Sarasota Jungle Gardens
2
Wild pigs look for food near Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.
  • December 17, 2025
The River Club in Lakewood Ranch has a pig problem
3
LaRon Foye, a senior safety/wide receiver, points to his right ring finger following his game-sealing interception against Jacksonville Bolles.
  • December 17, 2025
Cardinal Mooney football has undergone all-time turnaround
4
Lynnette Beecher and Gunilla Imshaug, members of the Lakewood Ranch Digital Photography Club, check out a photo of a baby alligator that was taken moments before.
  • December 17, 2025
Lakewood Ranch photography club preserves moments in time
5
Justin Gomlak helps bring big city glamour to the Sarasota stage in "A Very Broadway Christmas," which plays Monday, Dec. 22, at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.
  • December 17, 2025
The Van Wezel wants you to have 'A Very Broadway Christmas'

App

Download the Your Observer app

Stay in the know with the latest local news. Any device, anytime, anywhere.

DOWNLOAD NOW

Contact

  • 1970 Main St.
  • Third Floor
  • Sarasota, FL 34236
  • Phone: 941-366-3468
  • FPN Verified

Extra, Extra!

  • Newsletters
  • App
  • Crossword
  • Contests

more

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Rack Locations
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Options

sister sites

  • Business Observer
  • Jax Daily Record
  • Orange Observer
  • Accessibility Options
  • Copyright © 2025 Observer Media Group Inc., All Rights Reserved
Sign Up for Daily Headlines

A daily dose of news from Longboat Key, East County, Sarasota and Siesta Key.

Sign Up for In Case You Missed It

A Saturday dose of the week's top stories from Sarasota, Longboat Key and East County.


The Your Observer App is Here!

Get local news you can trust — now on your phone, tablet or laptop. Fast. Free. Easy to Use.
Stay informed, wherever you are.

Download Now